"Nowadays medical research focuses on single issues. Salt, sugar, fat… these are irrelevancies. By the way, did you know that if you don’t have enough sodium in your diet your body takes it from your bones, making them brittle? The zero salt diet will make you die like a washed up jellyfish. Something modern medicine seems to want to happen.

None of it matters. Burn more calories than you eat, you lose weight. Eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. It’s really no more complicated than that.

It’s 10.30am on a Monday and already the smell of cakes is wafting towards your desk. The colleague, who usually does a spot of baking over the weekend, has been up all night making cupcakes and an email has just flown around about their latest goodies.
Later in the day another email pings into your inbox, this time it’s an update – there’s still some cakes left and also sweets have been purchased. The treat table, where confectionary congregates, is now overflowing. Someone has even been to M&S and bought a Colin the Caterpillar cake.

Wow! Can I come and work in your office?

If this sounds all too familiar then you might be interested to hear that last month professor Nigel Hunt, from the Royal College of Surgeons, argued that cake culture is fuelling obesity and dental problems.

Oh oh....

Warnings like this may seem alarmist or even exaggerated...

No! Really?

...but cake culture at work has certainly grown in recent years. Gone are the days of the occasional birthday sponges, and our offices are starting to look more like patisseries. This comes at a time when we are facing a national obesity crisis: the UK is on track to have the highest obesity levels in Europe.

You clearly never heard the phrase 'correlation is not causation', did you?

Arguably you don’t have to take the snacks, and, as an adult, you should be able to say no.

*nods* Indeed so. End of problem?

What’s more, some people (myself included) simply do not have the willpower.

And....that's other people's problem how, exactly...?

We are teaching ourselves bad habits at work, and it’s time to break them. We’ve rallied against turkey Twizzlers in school, the fast food industry and ready meals – so why do we ignore the rising amount of cake and sweets that are filling our workplaces?

What's this 'We'..? I can't say I've ever rallied against it.

It's a free country. Want to eat Turkey Twizzlers? Go right ahead!

Instead of bringing your colleagues cakes, urge them to get up from their desk and go for a break. If your energy levels are crashing you probably need a screen-break rather than a snack. What we need is less work on our plates, not more cake.

Anyone urging me up out of my desk for some State-inspired calisthenics is dicing with death...

In a drive to reduce dog mess, people who fail to clean up after their pets will see them shamed with canine photofits, or “pugshots”, put up in public places and published in a council newsletter.

DNA taken from samples of dog faeces will be issued to create a computer-generated image of the offenders.
Key information taken from the samples will include gender, coat texture, length and colour and nose and eye colour.

*boggle*

The council has spent £5,000 informing residents about the scheme, which is expected to fund itself as owners must pay to have their dogs DNA registered.

I can't find, anywhere, any news on how many fines have been issued (never mind actually paid).

A spokesperson for the force said: “No criminal offence was committed and the issue was not something for the police to resolve. We advised the caller to speak to the landlord and try and resolve the problem through some kind of mediation.”

You misspelled 'medication', I think....

Ms Crowe said: “I just want people to sign the petition so we can get something similar to the dangerous dog act. If I kicked a cat I can get prosecuted but even though that cat bit my nanny nothing can done to the cat or the owner.

“I don’t want it put down or anything. I just want it assessed by the RSPCA and re-homed somewhere away from elderly people.”

I want people like you put in the stocks for public ridicule, but I suppose I'll have to swap them for the local paper...

Heh! I do love the amazing lengths they go to in order to avoid saying 'attacked'...

Chief Inspector Mark Dexter of GMP’s Specialist Operations branch said: “During the exercise, which involved searching an open area within the site, one of the police dogs unexpectedly detained a man next to the perimeter fence just outside the site.

“The dog’s handler attended shortly after and brought the dog back under control before further enquiries were made at the scene and as a result the man was initially arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal.

“He was de-arrested in order to receive hospital treatment and in line with standard policy the incident was referred to the GMP Professional Standards Branch.

How 'shortly after' are we talking about here?

“I know the images of the man’s injuries appear quite distressing and will understandably cause some concern but I would like to assure everyone that we are investigating this matter and will be looking to speak with the injured man as a matter of urgency to better understand what happened.”

Didn't you speak to him at the time, when you were falsely arresting him?

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Many patients with diabetes are at risk of blindness, amputation and even death because so few of them attend courses about how to manage their condition, a leading charity has warned.

Wah! Wah! The Terrible Toree Cutz are starving us of resources!

But wait. Maybe not:

Diabetes UK said the failure of many local NHS organisations around England was a key reason for the tiny number of patients attending courses.

The charity discovered last November that about a third of GP-led clinical commissioning groups – 72 out of the 208 that responded to a freedom of information request – did not commission diabetes courses, even though all CCGs are meant to do so.

Oops!

Patients who attend can benefit by, for example, losing weight, lowering their cholesterol or blood-sugar level or reducing their blood pressure.

Anecdotal evidence from patients suggests that many health professionals do not highlight the importance of participating in education courses to newly diagnosed patients, and that often when classes are laid on, they are at times that many people find inconvenient.

Avon and Somerset Police said the leaflets were "inappropriate" for the session and would be destroyed.

Wait, what? Are they no longer useful for the intended purpose? I'm pretty sure they are. Let's check:

Yup, seems like it's still prevailing wisdom amongst the boys in blue that taking precautions against crime is sensible.

So...why can't it work the other way around?

But no. The SJWs must be appeased, not just with abject apologies and denials of basic common sense...

Chief Inspector Marie Wright, force lead for rape and sexual assault, said: "Any suggestion that a victim of rape or sexual assault can ever, in any way, be to blame
is totally unacceptable and is the exact opposite of the message we've worked so hard to get across through our 'This is not an excuse' campaign.

"Our stance couldn't be clearer and the students were right to challenge the incorrect message.

...but also with a sacrificial burning of the 'offending' material:

"We're sorry this has happened. I will personally ensure a correct session is delivered to the students involved and have already arranged for the leaflets handed out, which are nearly 10 years out of date, to be destroyed."

...the beauty of our service is that all guests are treated equally as nicely — whether we like you or not.

Errr, well, yes. Why is that a surprising concept?

Saying that, your hotel experience will be much more enjoyable if we do like you. So here are some important do's and don'ts for your next stay, from the girl who brings you breakfast and restocks your mini bar.

Important, eh?

Delivering breakfast to people who are half-dressed (or worse) is not really how I like to start my day.

Well, perhaps you should have found another job?

Comment on the weather, ask how our day is going, or tell us about your stay so far. This is a great way for us to assess how happy our guests are.

Is that a big concern for you then? It really doesn't sound as if it is...

Although I'm sure my managers feel otherwise, I don't like it when guests take items from their mini bars.

Ummm, what? You do know the inflated prices on those things help to fund your wages, right?

The mini bars in each room of our hotel contain over 20 different kinds of snacks and drinks, and I'm in charge of restocking them — meaning that I have to review a master list in every single one of our 144 rooms every day to figure out if anything's missing.

Then, I have to bring the items to each room via a very badly designed, top-heavy cart, or, if it's not on the cart, I have to run across the entire hotel to get it from the supply closet. This whole process can take over three hours.

Oh noes! You poor little darling! The horror..!

No-one told me there'd be restocking involved!

Some people are overly critical, but others are afraid to speak up if they aren't satisfied. As long as you tell us nicely, we really do want to hear if there's something we can do to make your stay more pleasant.

Tributes were paid to Mr Simpson today and flowers and messages have been left at the scene.

Friend Anthony Pratt, 29, a welder said: “He was such a lovely guy, always smiling and good to be around. These guys who perform the stunts are amazing and attract huge crowds from miles around. It’s like a family day out.

“They should not have been doing what they [did] but there are no facilities for this kind of thing. He died doing what he loved but it’s a tragedy — our hearts go out to his family.”

Funny. I don't recall any of my childhood 'family days out' being anything like this...

Mr Briggs has been left with only half an index finger on his right hand and suffers constant pain since the terrifying attack in November near his home in Allenton. His three-year-old labrador, Rex, got away with just scratches. A court heard it was the third time the bull terrier had been involved in an incident. It has now been put to sleep.

Its owner, Balkar Bath, 25, of Osmaston Road, Derby, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court and admitted being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out-of-control. He was ordered to pay Mr Briggs the compensation. But with Bath only paying £10 a fortnight, it will take more than 20 years for Mr Briggs, 43, of Osmaston Road, to receive the full sum.

Bath was also banned from having a dog for five years.

He should have been banned for as long as he's still paying the compensation...

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Animal lovers are calling for urgent action to fix the broken fence, next to the c2c line in Old Leigh.
Alan Clary, owner of Bubbles Pet Care, in Broadway, Leigh, is demanding work takes place to prevent any further deaths.

Couldn't they just keep their bloody animals on a lead? Wouldn't that solve the problem?

Mr Clary, of Eastwood Road North, Leigh, 50, told the Echo: “It’s not the first dog to get on there and get hit. Other dogs have died there.

“At the end of the week I’m going to go down there and have a look at the fencing. Someone has got to do something, Network Rail haven’t. A dog could also cause a derailment.”

It'd have to be a bloody big one! It's not like the driver might swerve, is it?

Peter Wexham, Lib Dem councillor for Leigh, is aware of the problem and is going to do all he can to get the fences sorted out as soon as possible.

He said: “I knew it had happened, it’s quite upsetting. Something certainly needs to be done.

“I will get on to the council and Network Rail and get them to check the fences.”

Sentencing, the judge said: “I am sure that you understand that the offences that you have admitted are serious offences and in particular what you said and did to that police officer must have been very alarming for him.

“If I were to send you to prison, giving credit for your pleas of guilty, I would not be sentencing you for very much longer.

“Because of your need for support, I am going to take a different course.”

Judge Flewitt handed Eccleston the community order for three years and told the defendant that support will be available ‘as long as you need it’.

So, the next time he's on a magic mushroom rampage with a knife & chainsaw, maybe just shoot him, and do the community a favour...

Monday, 18 July 2016

Monkey Bizness in Lewes usually charges £6.25 for children aged 4 to 12 years old in off peak periods which they describe as Monday to Friday during term time.

However yesterday, as members of the National Union of Teachers striked (sic), parents who visited the soft play said they were charged £1 extra - the prices charged at weekends and during school holidays.

Well, since demand increased on their services and they needed more staff to cover, of course they did. Who couldn't possibly see the sound business reasons for...

"We come every Tuesday lunchtime and it costs £4, I'm shocked you have exploited parents by putting the price up to £7.50 because the teachers are striking!"

Julie Marchant wrote: "Absolutely disgusting I've just looked on there (sic) website and it says nothing about teacher strike day at all. Monkey Bizness should be ashamed."

Vicki Melville-Reed wrote: "Revolting, greedy behaviour. This strike is necessary for the schooled children of the UK.

"Every parent I know is standing by the teachers, these teachers have chosen to lose pay so the government will hopefully listen to them, to do right by the children.

"Parents are having to take time off work to look after their children, perhaps losing money or holiday time. Successful companies like Sealife and Drusillas are standing by the teachers and the parents but not Monkey Bizness."

Saturday, 16 July 2016

Rekha bought the cottage, her first home, in 2010 for £162,500. She spent years and £30,000 doing it up before moving in in 2013.

But it was during the renovation - and when her builder carried out alterations to the roof without listed building consent - that her ordeal began. Although she did get retrospective consent for the work, her neighbour took her to court.

Representing herself, Rekha was found against by a judge. He ruled stones belonging to the neighbour, a ‘key architectural feature’ had been removed, ordered she pay costs and damages, and denied an appeal. She paid £17,000 but was served with an outstanding bill of £72,000.

Rekha, who is now living with her parents in Stalybridge and works three jobs, says her decision not to pay is a moral one.

She added: “The court case broke me, totally broke me. I had tried to set up instalments but they ignored me.

“In the end I thought it would be criminal to pay and fuel these bullies. It’s never been about the money - it’s about right and wrong. I feel morally obligated to stand up to them. I teach hundreds of kids. If I can’t do what’s right how am I supposed to teach them to do what’s right?”

I think your example is going to teach them a few of life's lessons, Rekha, albeit maybe not in the way you think it will...

One local woman told the local paper she was scared for the safety of her five children: “It’s awful because I’m worried for my kids, I have a baby of 18 months. I won’t be leaving them to play in our garden any more. Nothing like this has ever happened here.”

So what had happened? The Home Office had moved a number of asylum seekers into a property on the street, and residents stood outside the property protesting and according to witnesses, “being vile and very intimidating”.
You can attempt to gloss over the actions of the group and attribute kinder motives, but stating that having asylum seekers near your home means immediate threat of child-snatching is outright racist, borrowing centuries-old tropes.

The protest led to the eviction of 20 asylum seekers from the property (and the fact that 20 people lived in one property illustrates how cramped and poor the conditions were likely to be).

This is how poor the 'Guardian' journalism standards now are - this hyperventilating cretin was to bloody dim to read the actual article that she linked to:

The Home Office moved three refugees into a property in Penhill Road last Thursday, which was not approved by Bexley Council.

Without giving any notice to the council or residents, more followed over the weekend and it resulted in a demonstration being held outside their home on Sunday.

There's no evidence whatsoever that the Home Office moved the 'extra' people in, and the inference is that they simply occupied the house illegally.

Upsetting the council every bit as much as the residents!

Officials have also demanded a further meeting with the Home Office to ensure a situation like this does not happen again.

Bexley Council leader Councillor Teresa O’Neill said: “We fully understand the concerns of residents in Penhill Road. Our council enforcement officers acted quickly and were able to stop this property from being used in such an unlawful manner.”

Friday, 15 July 2016

A police officer who was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register after admitting voyeurism offences has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.
Irshad Kamal, 46, of Bramfield Road, Wandsworth, was a serving officer in Merton when he was charged with three counts of voyeurism after secretly filming hundreds of encounters with prostitutes.

Pc Rytis Gilys, who had served in Newham for six years, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court and sentenced to six months imprisonment in April. He was dismissed from duty without notice at a misconduct hearing on Thursday.
The 33-year-old had already been deported to Lithuania after serving less than six months in prison and did not attend the hearing...

A Bromley fraudster who claimed to online buyers she was selling riding equipment because she had a chronic disease has been spared jail after duping 46 victims into paying for goods they never received.

Poppy Valentine Eastwood, 24, of Pike Close, pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court on March 21 to six counts of fraud by false representation and one count of acquiring criminal property.
She was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday, June 7 to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Well, of course! She's probably the real victim, right?

A Facebook group called 'Scammed by Poppy Eastwood' has more than 4,000 members.

No doubt someone will complain about a 'digital lynch mob', but if the justice system can't protect people from scammers, who will?

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Bexley Police posted a statement on their Facebook page this afternoon (June 22) stating that “there are no restrictions for any members of the public” in Bexleyheath and specifically in The Broadway.

The comment appears to have been posted following an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area and claims from parents on social media that officers had told pupils they were “not allowed to go to Bexleyheath.”

The police statement says: “To clarify outstanding concerns regarding school students being banned from Bexleyheath, this is NOT the case. All persons are welcome to come to Bexleyheath and there are no restrictions for any members of the public.

“Recently on The Broadway, Bexleyheath, there has been an increase of anti-social behaviour, which has caused concern for members of the public and school aged children.

"This is constantly being monitored by ourselves and we are working with a number of partners to try and resolve this issue.”

Well, I'm sure that's very reassuring to the public. They'll be delighted to hear that rumours of police being heavy-handed are unfounded. Right?

But she preferred the company of a monster to her pets. So she let it slide. I cannot wrap my head around the idea that this woman wanted pets at all...

Mr MacDonald said disabled Mrs Wilson, who is in a wheelchair, suffers from spina bifida and other medical problems, was entirely dependant on her husband.

But she admitted she "should have been more proactive in challenging her husband about his care of the cats".

Ya think?!?

The court was told the couple had separated following the death of Tiny Tim.

Not that dependent then? Unless that was just for show.

As a result magistrates yesterday looked leniently on Mrs Wilson, who admitted failing to protect the kitten from unnecessary suffering, and agreed she could be allowed to keep her last remaining cat and she was served a conditional discharge.

The judge said the handling of Harris' case by mental health serviceshad not filled him with confidence, but he could not be sure if Harris had denied treatment or been turned away.

He added: "From the perspective of a member of the public they see a man who has been sectioned, who repeatedly sought assistance and was turned away, was unsupervised to the extent he was able to stop taking his medication with no one apparently noticing.

"Then someone who goes on to commit an extremely grave offence.

"But the truth is I'm not in a position to resolve the deep conflict."

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Cheryl, 45, from Walton Avenue in Penwortham, was refused a ride home when Hussain, who arrived at Preston’s mobility centre to pick her up, spotted her Labrador guide dog, Thelma.

The father-of-six, who claimed in court he came out in a rash when confronted with dogs, admitted a breach of the Equality Act. Preston magistrates ordered Hussain, 44, of Oozehead Lane, Blackburn, to pay a £55 fine, a £20 victim surcharge and £250 costs.

Monday, 11 July 2016

Pegg has said he intended the revelation in the new film that the character – now played by John Cho – is in a same-sex relationship as a tribute to Takei’s gay rights activism.

But on Thursday the actor responded by saying he thought the move was “really unfortunate”, as he felt it suggested sexuality was something that could be retrofitted. He also said his concerns had been ignored by the film-makers.

“He’s right, it is unfortunate, it’s unfortunate that the screen version of the most inclusive, tolerant universe in science fiction hasn’t featured an LGBT character until now. We could have introduced a new gay character, but he or she would have been primarily defined by their sexuality, seen as the ‘gay character’, rather than simply for who they are, and isn’t that tokenism?”

"Bloody hell, these identity politics rules are confusing! It's like they make them up on the spot, or something.."

...Pegg said that Roddenberry’s pioneering work exploring diversity in the series indicated he would have welcomed such a move.

"How can you argue with a dead man's wishes (as expressed by me), eh? EH?"

After receiving his first warning in May, Simon visited Barking CAB in Ripple Road. Struggling to understand the DWP warning, Simon showed an advisor the letter, which states his active benefit payments “may be affected” if a mental health questionnaire is not returned by June 20.

The advisor claimed he wouldn’t be paid until he returned the questionnaire, leading Simon to believe he’d been paid in error.

“I’m a slow learner,” he said. “I’m slow to pick up what someone wants me to do. If it’s something I have to read I can read it but understanding it’s a different matter altogether. That’s where I need help.”

Saturday, 9 July 2016

Research has shown boys get more pocket money than girls even from a very young age, most likely because they simply ask for more. Although it might be a complete coincidence and something parents don’t realise they are doing, it’s clearly something perpetuated for the rest of our lives.

Clearly... *rolls eyes*

I, along with most women I know, see arrogant guys who through their bulldozer technique in approaching professional contacts have succeeded in getting places female counterparts have not – if only because their approach and lack of gratitude left a trail of destruction for the rest of us to try to piece back together before trying ourselves.

"Waah! Waaah! Mummy, he's got all the good toys! S'not faaaaaiiirrr!"

Even as someone at the beginning of their career, I’ve had it drilled into me to be passionate, but patient. Don’t annoy people, don’t send too many emails. And as every normal human being knows, say thank you at the first opportunity.

Yet in my experience women who take this approach are shunned in favour of men who go in all guns blazing and near-enough demand access. You want them not to succeed, just once, to be taken down a peg or two, but it will never happen.

"Curses! Won't someone rid me of these troublesome men?"

Instead of teaching girls to shy away when they think something isn’t fair, we need to tell them to speak up. Whether they come across as spoilt or unlikeable shouldn’t be an issue when they think they see something unjust.

Parit Patel, IPSoft's head of solutions, added that the AI would adjust its emotional tone to respond to that of the caller.
He said: "If I told Amelia I didn't think she was doing a good job, she would pick up on that."

Good grief! Is this how SkyNet gets started..?

Amelia, created by "digital labour" company IPSoft, based in New York, has already started answering the phones at Enfield Council in a bid to - you guessed it - cut costs.

Friday, 8 July 2016

The sentencing hearing was told Malik comes from a decent family, but had gone off the rails after developing a cannabis problem.

You 'develop' an allergy. You choose to take cannabis.

Waheed Baber, defending, said Malik was a dog owner himself, adding: “Your Honour may think these are not the actions of a gentleman who himself is a dog owner - to systematically damage, hurt Miss Burgess’ dog."

The barrister added that Malik had a £1,000 a month job as a ‘merchandise printer’, saying: “For him it would not be his main source of income, to go and burgle somebody’s home..this is very much his first burglary offence, he demonstrates his remorse by apologising to Miss Burgess for the trauma he has caused her. He says he is shocked about the injuries to the dog.

"There’s a real danger that the publicity and emotion surrounding this case becomes so overwhelming that it may overshadow everything else said on Mr Malik’s behalf.”

Oh, I don't know. There'd have to be quite a lot of it to overshadow this, after all:

Sentencing Malik, who has previous convictions for fraud and possessing a blade and was on bail for assault at the time...

So, not his first offence, just his first for burglary! I'm sure it won't be long before he's got the whole set.

Thursday, 7 July 2016

A 16-year-old girl ‘paid the ultimate price’ after taking a cocktail of heroin, ecstasy and cocaine, an inquest heard.
Sky Nicol died after taking ‘off the scale amounts’ of the drugs in Blackburn town centre.

Drugs!

In a state of panic, East Lancashire coroner Michael Singleton heard the teenager’s friend held off ringing an ambulance for more than half an hour, after calling a second friend to come round and help.

Incompetent youth!

Questioning the witness, the former Darwen Vale High School pupil’s mum, Susan Graham asked why there was a delay in calling the ambulance.

She said: “They killed her.

“The ambulance should have been called straight away.”

Failure to recognise personal responsibility on the part of the deceased!

The mother of Sky’s friend said: “I had no concern at first for Sky’s state.

“She was laughing and acting normal.

“I was only alarmed when she was having a fit and I told my daughter to ring an ambulance.”

When questioned by Mrs Graham why she did not call the ambulance herself, she said: “I was not near the telephone my daughter was closer.”

Laziness!

In the wake of Sky’s death, Lucy Hardwick, manager at Accrington charity Maundy Relief, said that young people need to be more aware of the risks they are taking.

Pointless 'awareness' campaigns demanded!

I think 'Chav Bingo' might just become as big a sport as 'Bullshit Bingo'...

Benson, a pitbull terrier owned by Anthony Stones, was sentenced to be put down earlier this year.

But now, despite being a banned breed, the dog has been given a second chance and will be released from police kennels to its owner.

/facepalm

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard Benson had gone into ‘fight’ mode because he was ‘stressed’, and was otherwise a playful animal with a sound temperament, in the opinion of the expert who examined him.

The fact that the dog nipped rather than ‘clamped on’ to its victims - as it was perfectly capable of doing - was said by Mr Stones’ lawyer to be an example of how the dog did not have a violent character.

Oh, great!

Richard Brigden, representing Mr Stones, said leaving the door open ‘was an error he felt some shame about’.

“He understands now the effect of that error was that members of the public found themselves in a dangerous situation.”

Through no fault of their own.

Sentencing, Judge Bernard Lever said he was prepared to accept it was ‘an isolated aberration on the part of dog and owner’.

But he warned Mr Stones: “If it happens again, Benson is destroyed, and nobody else is to blame.”

Wednesday, 6 July 2016

Unicode President Mark Davis confirmed the move, telling Buzzfeed 'The committee decided not to mark them as Emoji, but to add them as characters.'
This means they will not show up on emoji keyboards.

Previously he responded to criticism in the New York Times, saying , 'Some people are bothered by the inclusion of the rifle as a candidate, but the reason that's included is because shooting is an Olympic sport.'

Not for much longer, if the usual suspects get their way...

Soon after it was announced, the rifle was protested by a British gun control group, which told the BBC, 'It would be familiarising and popularising the image of a weapon which is not a good idea.'

They aren't named. There can't be that many of them, though, surely? After all, we don't need gun control, here, we've already got it.

Monday, 4 July 2016

Dr Chodarhi, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "Accidents often happen when we're distracted and mobile phones are increasingly to blame - whether it's a teenager stepping out into traffic while instant messaging or a baby grabbing at a hot drink or biting into a liquitab while their parent is replying to a text.

"It only takes a split second for an accident to happen so I urge parents and young people to adapt their behaviour."

Banks have become increasingly wary of offering services to organisations sending money overseas because of stiff penalties introduced to stop illegal transactions on their books.

The Government has delegated a role to banks to monitor the potential financing of terrorism, which means they must report suspicious financing or money laundering or face penalties. As such banks scrutinise clients sending money to parts of the world connected with terrorism.

Yuill said.
“What they promoted and implemented corresponded more closely with the values and ethics of the groups concerned in particular equality, international solidarity and the protection of human rights and the environment,” Yuill said.

Headmistress Gillian Knox sent pupils home with a letter saying: ‘Red is often used to energise body and mind, and some research indicates that it can increase heart and breathing rates. [This is] not the calm, relaxed learning state we hope to achieve.

Wow! That's going a bit off message for the wonderful modern police 'service', isn't it?

Ch Supt Nev Kemp said: "My understanding is that most of the protesters that said they might be coming to Brighton actually went up to Bristol, so they didn't appear."

But he said the anti-fascist counter-protest did go ahead and he added: "There were a significant number who took part who were intent on violence and criminality."

*gasps* Say it ain't so!

Mr Kemp said: "There were a number of people in the protest who showed they were actually - ironically, bearing in mind the protest is about tolerance - some of the most intolerant people you could come across."

*settles in with popcorn*

Elaine Ortiz, of anti-fascist group the English Disco Lovers (Ed: Nope, me either...), said none of her group were involved in any violence.

She told The Argus: "I think that's a mistaken assumption that any violence came from the anti-fascist group.

"We had a public meeting with representatives from all the groups and it was discussed very clearly that on the day of the demo there was a skinhead reunion planned.

"So everyone was fully aware of the potential confusion.

"We were all planning a safe and peaceful protest, we wanted to represent Brighton in a peaceful manner."

You always have such good intentions, don't you? And yet, violence inexplicably 'just happens'...